Hot Take: We don’t need a transfer portal QB
Been thinking this through and wondering where we’re getting this need for a transfer portal QB stuff.
Jadyn Davis threw for 3,370 yards with 43 TD and 9 INT while completing 70.8% of his passes in 2023. Completed 72.5% of his passes for 3,425 yards with 43 TD and 6 INT.
I get there’s a significant learning curve in college football but it’s not like we ask our QBs to throw 40 times a game because Michigan is a run first team which shouldn’t change if we have Mullings, Hall, Cabana, and Edwards. Why couldn’t we ease Davis into the offense and give him easy throws underneath to our athletes like Morgan and Edwards? His skill set is accuracy, extending plays, and play action pass. We can absolutely work with that, especially if we have another great offensive line.
January 16th, 2024 at 12:00 AM ^
One was never trusted to touch the ball the other was only trusted to run the ball and never pass
You guys have to get real. Elite programs have backup QBs who can throw a pass. This is a joke.
Nebraska is out paying Michigan for QBs.
Thank god we won the NC. this offense with a QB that cant play QB is going to invite 9 man boxes and Oregon Texas and OSU are laughing at our state of QB recruiting.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:13 PM ^
If Harbaugh leaves I'd say roll with Davis or Orji. If he says there is still a chance we can compete for another title, then we go shopping for someone who can help us out for a year or whatever.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:14 PM ^
Ideally, we would bring in a serviceable transfer QB with a lot of experience.
10-2 will get us in the playoff next year.
Transfer QB or no, Texas and Ohio State are going to be very, very tough outs. Oregon has a simar overall talent profile and will probably be good.
Washington and USC will be breaking in new QB's just like we are, but neither is going to trot out an NFL Defense like we are.
So, just spitballing, I'd say our rough over/under for wins in 2024 is 9.5, and if Oregon goes our way, we can be in the playoff with losses to Texas and Ohio State. I doubt three losses gets into the playoff, unless we end really strong and win at Ohio State.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:29 PM ^
The other thing to consider is that with these super conferences, almost everyone's schedule gets harder next year. That door swings both ways. SEC teams have to deal with Texas, Texas has to deal with the SEC teams instead of the Big 12 body bags, etc.
Perfect season 15-0 national champions like Michigan or Georgia will probably become rarer occurences going forward. I can almost guarantee that some teams will rest starters in regular season games once they lock up a home field playoff game (and/or a bye).
January 15th, 2024 at 1:08 PM ^
Nobody is going to sacrifice a bye week or home field advantage. That isnt happening.
January 15th, 2024 at 1:49 PM ^
Didn't you say what he just said?
January 15th, 2024 at 3:50 PM ^
Nope. Sitting players and losing in college football is a good way to lose either of those. Georgia was just the best team of the last 3 years and slipped from to 1st to 6th. In what world would any ranking be protected? He thinks there will be games you can take off, I do not agree.
1st to 6th after a near 3 year unbeaten streak. Nobody is sitting anyone.
January 15th, 2024 at 1:59 PM ^
Totally agree going undefeated just got much more difficult for the B1G and SEC. I can also see a total of 6 teams in the playoff from these 2 conferences.
January 16th, 2024 at 12:04 AM ^
Oregon trots out 2 QBs we would die for
We trot out a running back QB and a true freshman.
So thankful for this NC because our elite defense is going to need to hold teams to 3 points a game.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:15 PM ^
Different era, but Chad Henne, Jake Long, and Mike Hart started together as true freshmen.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:22 PM ^
Henne was special and Long was a future #1 pick. That’s crootin’ right there.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:23 PM ^
Yea, he was a 5*.
January 15th, 2024 at 1:16 PM ^
It was a different era where the players on your team were just what you had... Michigan started Henne because they sorta had to (no Matt Guttierez slander).
Now, it's the wild west and other school's starting QBs can be poached. There's literally no need for Michigan to start a true freshman (unless Davis is really, really good).
January 15th, 2024 at 4:30 PM ^
Starting QBs coach be poached if you’re willing to offer loads of money and bring in a guy that doesn’t care about the team. Harbaugh won’t do that.
January 15th, 2024 at 4:38 PM ^
Henne wasnt the starter until Gutz got hurt.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:16 PM ^
Because true freshman QB's are not good. Even the great ones usually take time to get great. We have too much talent on this team to roll the dice and hope our freshman QB is good enough to get us through a very tough schedule.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:18 PM ^
If this was 2025 and we had more more pass catching talent, i think i wouldve wanted to roll with denegal or davis. but in 2024 I think orji is best suited to start. Let him run the Jalen Milroe offense (2 reads, then scramble)
A bruising rushing attack would paper over a lot of issues for our offense next year. Tons of read option with Orji, maybe attempt around 15 or so passes a game.
dust off some of weiss's qb run game designs. protect the D, aim to win all of our games like 24-10
as time goes on we can put more on his plate in the pass game
January 15th, 2024 at 1:19 PM ^
Sounds great in theory until you lose a 9-7 game and your QB's stat line looks like an Iowa QB under Brian Ferentz – 8 of 18 for 77 yards and 2 INTs – and you realize maybe intentionally trying to be a one-dimensional offense was a mistake.
January 15th, 2024 at 2:05 PM ^
Who said anything about one dimensional? We are likely going to lose games no matter what without a senior JJ.
January 16th, 2024 at 12:06 AM ^
Remember when Joe Milton could throw 70 yards eye closed?
Guys - our staff didnt allow the best kick returner of all time to even throw the ball. Thats QB1 lol
January 16th, 2024 at 12:07 AM ^
The message board is gonna die for McNamarna next year if not a portal QB incoming.
January 15th, 2024 at 2:11 PM ^
Milroe throws a pretty accurate deep ball. Going into the Rose Bowl I thought he was getting too much respect (as though he was Vnce Young 2.0). Now he isn't getting enough (as in Orgi can be some reasonable facsilmile of him).
January 15th, 2024 at 12:19 PM ^
I agree with OP.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:20 PM ^
Just need to run 90 times a game and we're good.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:24 PM ^
I'd err on the side of letting Jadyn learn and grow, and ride with Orji and see what happens. Yeah, Orji isn't the big-play passer that JJ is/was, but he's more durable as a runner. Some good run-read/option stuff with Orji and Donovan/Mullings in combination with what should be a very good returning OL gives us a solid base for the offense. At that point Orji doesn't have to do a lot with his arm, just enough.
January 16th, 2024 at 12:08 AM ^
LOL
9 man boxes with Orji. He will pass 2x a game. We are Navy offense. Grats.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:28 PM ^
Cold take. We do.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:30 PM ^
I bucked the trend and gave you an upvote because, though I might not agree with your conclusion, you did a very good job of presenting your argument.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:37 PM ^
We 100 percent need a portal QB and will take one. Otherwise we will be Iowa.
January 16th, 2024 at 12:10 AM ^
No we are Navy or Army. Take out the knees and run 97% of every game with 2 throws. Just crazy a NC team in this state of pathetic on QB when it has a top 3 defense. But what QB or WR wants to play here aside "grinders"
But QB room is a really sad last 2 years. All these elite Michigan based QBs going to Nebraska Notre Dame and LSU while we say "sad unlucky"
January 15th, 2024 at 12:38 PM ^
Please record this in your hot take voice and re-post.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:38 PM ^
I am firmly in the Orji camp, but if a decent portal option becomes available, M should absolutely pursue it. There is not a single proven QB on the roster so the more chances you give yourself, the better.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:40 PM ^
Denegal, Orji, Warren, and Tuttle (if waiver thing is true) have all been in our system.
From what I understand, anyone we bring in will miss spring practice. How many clear upgrades are going to be available? And will they be able to be ready by week 2 Texas?
If the right guy wants to come in and compete, do it.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:47 PM ^
It all depends on who is available and how good people on our roster actually are which we won't really be able to judge before the portal closes so...probably best to get a portal guy if there is one.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:51 PM ^
It will be interesting to see how much development occurs during the summer. I hope that all of the QB hopefuls are throwing and working with receivers.
If the OL is good and with the backs they have coming back, there should be a good running game - always a help to a new QB.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:57 PM ^
Easing a true freshmen in, while surrounded by a largely unproven cast operating in a fairly complex offensive system, sounds like a formula for disaster.
January 16th, 2024 at 12:12 AM ^
Yep
But based on the current room Davis will be thrown in by game 7 and destroyed. Congrats on missing every qb target for 3 years. WAIT we have FLORIDA QB OF THE YEAR BABY
January 15th, 2024 at 12:59 PM ^
Agree with OP. If Orji can improve his passing game he becomes a two headed monster. Between him, Denegal, Warren, Tuttle, and Davis it will be a hell of a competition.
January 15th, 2024 at 2:14 PM ^
He first has to have a passing game to actually improve it.
edit: I just looked up his high school stats: He started 2 years and completed 50 percent of his passes, with 28 touchdowns and 14 interceptions for about 165 yards a game. His completion percentage went down from his junior to senior seasons (52 to 48). It's my recollection that QBs who don't light it up against HS competition are bad bets against high level college competition. There are a ton of QBs who do light it up in HS but still don't succeed at the college level, but all things being equal, you'd still rather have someone that did.
Remember Shane Morris (he was very highly regarded coming in) but I thought it was a warning alarm that he was not very accurate in HS, and guess what-he wasn't at Michigan either.
January 16th, 2024 at 12:15 AM ^
Remember Joe Milton could pass 809992 yards on his knees and would make VInce Young look a joke. Orgi is better than both despite this staff not trusting him ever and not letting JJ run because scared of backup qB options.
January 16th, 2024 at 12:13 AM ^
Improve to 2 passes a game??????????????????
Staff wouldnt even trust him with 1 pass a game. Not 1. Every time he came in defenses came to defend run. So very easy to go off schedule and pass but they said hell no.
Granted our QB is the best punt returner in the land.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:59 PM ^
You can always tell the folks who never started on their high school teams.
Competition is good. Bringing in more talent is good. Letting the "cream rise to the top" is good.
The fact that people want to (or are comfortable with) turning the keys over to unproven players just scream mediocrity. It screams pre-2021.
Players who miraculously get better in an offseason after not showing much the previous year are few and far in between.
Are we comfortable with Donovan and Mullings? Tyler Morris? Kenneth Grant? Derrick Moore? Josaiah Stewart? Keon Sabb?
Yes. Why? Because those guys have already flashed. They've been in the mix. Those guys starting next year works because we know they're ready. Even El-Hadi and Gentry.
But QB? CB #2? I'm sorry...we may have the next Brady and Woodson, but I didn't see anything this season that would lead me to believing that is true (or likely).
For those spots...hoard the talent in the portal and figure it out on the field. May the best man win.
January 15th, 2024 at 1:23 PM ^
That's kind of assuming there's talent to be found in the portal. Who's out there at QB right now who you'd want? There may be a CB available, I wouldn't know because I haven't been paying close attention, but as far as QB goes it seems like the portal is a bunch of meh.
January 15th, 2024 at 2:36 PM ^
You can always tell the folks who never started on their high school teams.
Someone peaked in high school.
January 15th, 2024 at 1:07 PM ^
It's not just about pass attempts. It's about reading defenses, adjusting (and even knowing) the plays, being a leader, and having the game slow down.
The 2024 schedule is unforgiving and it's a rebuild year...I'm just hoping for some reasonably competitive football. Throwing a true freshman to the wolves is not part of that.
January 15th, 2024 at 1:12 PM ^
Michigan let' Edwards throw more than Orgi. That's not a vote of confidence. Could you imagine if JJ started as a freshman ..I don't think it would of ended very successful. I think we need a good portal QB. It was incredible seeing Michigan go the the National Championship,but we missed out on a lot of portal QB"s , but if that's the price I have to pay I'm fine with it. Go blue!
January 15th, 2024 at 1:12 PM ^
Doesn't that sorta feel like how we wanted to play Milroe or McCord? Just confuse the inexperienced QB into one or two mistakes a game with complexity.
January 15th, 2024 at 1:15 PM ^
Michigan threw it about 24 times a game this year. It's a misunderstanding to think that means you don't need a good QB. Michigan would not have won the Big Ten or the national championship without JJ McCarthy getting completions in some key moments in those games.
It's unlikely an inexperienced freshman can perform in those moments at the same level. JJ two years ago probably wouldn't. If you have a great O-line, a great running game, and a very stout defense, you can win 9-10 games with a lot of guys at the QB position. But win 11-12+ games? Nah.
Also, it's not said that Michigan will always have offensive lines and defenses quite at that level. Even under Harbaugh we've seen much worse, and we've seen QBs falter as well.
January 15th, 2024 at 1:17 PM ^
We will have an extremely good defense returning. It would be ashamed to waste it with an offense that spends half the season finding its way.
This is not last year's schedule. It is much more front-loaded. We could play ourselves out of even a 12 team Playoff picture if we drop too many of those tough games early.
We will need an experienced ready-to-go QB.
January 15th, 2024 at 1:28 PM ^
I'm like 50% serious when I say we should consider running an option with Orji, Edwards, Mullings, etc. Lateral/seam passing game (Loveland, Morgan, etc.) with a few deep shots mixed in. Just imagining how mad that would make opposing DCs who had to prepare for it is almost enough for me to say it's the right move